Today’s interview is with Jasmine Stewart, one of this year’s stellar summer interns in the Collection Services Division. Jasmine has been busy inventorying and creating metadata for a collection of no-longer-available-in-print National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) decisions. She is also continuing work on accessioning our collection of foreign legal gazettes gifted by the Dag Hammarskjold Library. We are very happy to have her with us this summer.
Describe your background
I was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. I enjoy watching TV series and movies from the 90’s, cooking, learning to draw and reading, specifically about food and its impact on the world.
What is your academic/professional history?
I graduated from CH Flowers High School in the summer of 2015 and decided to go to Towson University. I am currently majoring in exercise science and plan to go to graduate school to become a physical therapist.
How would you describe your job to other people?
For my first project, I would describe my job as sort of a book detective (or gazette detective to be more specific) because I look through books and search for anything missing, then see if I can find the missing piece. And for my second project, I would describe my job as sorting and processing documents published by the NTSB.
Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?
I wanted to gain perspective of the Law Library as an employee instead of just a guest. I visited a lot growing up because my Aunt (Tanya London) has been here for as long as I can remember. Every visit was fun because there is so much always going on. So naturally working here seemed like an opportunity I could not resist.
What is the most interesting fact you’ve learned about the Law Library?
I am amazed at how everyone knows everyone here. It’s pretty much a family environment even though there are so many employees and mostly everyone works at their desks all day. Yet I still see people take time out of their day to talk to someone who they do not see on a day-to-day basis. And I’m glad to say I have had great encounters with people here.
What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
I am the biggest football fan; not American football but futbol (known as soccer in the U.S.). I am a proud Chelsea FC fan despite the season we just had and one of my favorite players is Paul Pogba. This summer I tried my best to watch every game at the Euros (heartbroken for France) and cannot wait for the Olympics to see the U.S. women’s team play. [Note to readers, this interview was conducted before the U.S. women’s team played in Rio.]